Storage bag for clothing articles or the like

ABSTRACT

A storage bag which can be used for camping or the like is substantially flat when not being used to accommodate articles so that it can be folded or rolled into a package of low bulk when stored. The bag is used in connection with a conventional clothes hanger and has an inner chamber for storing bulky items. Quick access to this chamber is provided by a slit or opening through a flat surface of the bag. Further, many additional articles may be stored in the bag by providing pockets on the front and rear surfaces thereof, which pockets are substantially flush with the flat bag when no articles are being stored therein.

United States Patent [191 F urst STORAGE BAG FOR CLOTHING ARTICLES OR THE LIKE Inventor: Beatrice M. Furst, 1723 lllingsworth Ave., Allentown, Pa. 19103 Filed: Oct. 19, 1972 Appl. No.: 299,172

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1906 Coburn 150/1 12/1925 Boyes 150/1 12/1927 Holbrook 206/7 K 6/1945 Threeton 190/41 B UX 6/1955 Ford 150/1 1111' 3,834,497 [451 Sept. 10,1974

Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert C. Miller [5 7] ABSTRACT A storage bag which can be used for camping or the like'is substantially flat when not being used to accommodate articles so that .it can be folded or rolled into a package of low bulk when stored. The bag is used in connection with a conventional clothes hanger and has an inner chamber for storing bulky items. Quick access to this chamber is provided by a slit or opening through a flat surface of the bag. Further, many additional articles may be stored in the bag by providing pockets on the front and rear surfaces thereof, which pockets are substantially flush with the fiat bag when no articles are being stored therein.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1111 un t% STORAGE BAG FOR CLOTHING ARTICLES OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF, THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a storage bag and, more particularly, to a storage bag which can be made of, for example, cloth or similar material and which is adapted to be used in conjunction with a conventional clothes hanger for storing articles such as clothing during camping trips.

During the past few years, there has developed a tremendous interest in weekend and extended camping vacations by American families. This interest has translated itself, in business terms, into an enormous growth in the manufacture and sale of camping an related equipment. Space saving and low cost are two of the important criteria in the manufacture of such equipment because of the limited room available in camping accommodations such as camper vans, tents, automobiles, or the like and the limitations on the family budget.

Whether short or extended camping vacations are taken (this would also include the use of automobiles for travelling cross-country), provision must be made for transporting and storing articles of clothing or the like to be used during the trip. In the past, it has been customary to use suitcases, but the obvious disadvantage is the bulk of the suitcase and the larger space required for storage purposes when the suitcase is not being used. Further, it is readily appreciated that a suitcase presents great difficulty in obtaining ready access to the articles packed therein. Conventional garmet bags of different types have made access to packed items somewhat easier, but even they have been constructed with undesirable bulk when the bag is not being used. Beyond this, however, their construction does not provide for optimum quick access to the stored articles. The aforementioned known suitcases and garmet bags have also been undesirable from the cost point of view.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a storage bag with particular applicability to camping which meets the foregoing lowspace requirements while, at the same time, provides much needed space for clothing and related articles.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a storage bag for camping or the like which, when not in use, can be rolled or folded into a compactbundle so that it can be stored in an area requiring little space. I

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a storage bag which can be used with a conventional clothes hanger when it is desired to store articles in said bag.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bag which can be easily manufactured from readily available materials at low cost.

The above objects have been achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing a storage bag which is substantially flat when not being used for accommodating articles so that it can be folded or rolled into a package of low bulk when stored. The bag basically consists of front and rear pieces which are joined at their peripheries to define a substantially enclosed chamber forming an interior storage area for bulky articles. Quick access to the chamber or interior storage area is provided by a slit or opening through either of the two pieces. This opening can remain permanently open and can take the form of an elongated ellipse or any other desired suitable geometrical shape. The front and rear pieces are joined at their respective peripheries in a conventional, simple, and low cost manner such as, for example, by machine stitching the two pieces together. An aperture is provided at the uppermost end of the joined front and rear pieces for accommodating a conventional clothes hanger and is so dimensioned that approximately only the hook portion of the hanger extends through the aperture for suspending the bag when it is deisred to accommodate articles therein. The uppermost portion of the front and rear pieces are so shaped as to be complimentary to the sloping shoulder portions of the coat hanger. Large storage capacity and quick access to stored articles of various sizes and shapes are achieved by providing pockets on either or both of the flat front and rear pieces. The pockets can be of similar size and shape or different sizes and shapes. To maintain the flat shape and low bulk of the bag, the pockets, when not in use, are flush with the flat front and rear pieces. In accordance with the present invention, low cost is achieved by making the pockets as well as the front and rear pieces from reversible cloth material such as denim, cotton or other durable material which, at the same time, is machine washable and dryable. One embodiment of the present invention would consist of the piece containing the access opening to the interior storage chamber of the bag also being provided with small pockets located adjacent the uppermost end of the bag and on each side of the access opening and a plurality of larger pockets located at the lowermost end of the bag. Similarly, the rear piece. can be provided with a flush, large pocket extending the full width of the bag with a plurality of smaller pockets located at the lowermost end of the bag. When not in use, the clothes hanger can be removed and the bag folded or rolled into a package of very small volume. When someone desires to utilize the bag, e.g., during camping or for hanging in an automobile, the clothes hanger can be inserted through the access opening so that its hook portion extends through the aperture located at the uppermost end of the bag which can then be hung on a bar, hook, or the like.

Bulky articles can then be inserted into the interior chamber of the bag while various other articles such as shirts, skirts, socks, brushes, etc., can be inserted into the various pockets on the front and/or rear pieces of the storage bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Referring now to the drawing and, in particular, to FIG. 1, a storage bag for use in camping or similar activities in accordance with the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 10. The bag consists of a front piece 11 and, as shown in FIG. 2, a similarly shaped rear piece 11, both of which can be made of any heavy duti durable cloth which is shrink-and-fade resistant and can be machine washed and dried. Such materials which can be included in this category are denim, duck, canvas, cotton, or a cotton and synthetic mixture. Nylon material may also be used with good results. In view of the symmetry of the front and rear pieces 11, 11', the assembly of the storage bag is made much easier and less expensive if the cloth is reversible. By way of example only, the cloth can be of 45 inch width, and the front and rear pieces 11, 11' can be assembled by any conventional method such as, for example, machine stitching. It will be appreciated, however, that other conventional joining means may be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further, the front and rear pieces 11, 11 could have a variety of geometrical shapes, depending upon the particular needs of the user, but in the present illustration said pieces define a storage bag having an approximately rectangular body with a generally trapezoidal-shaped portion at the uppermost end for accommodating a conventional clothes hanger.

In their assembled condition, front and rear pieces 11, 11 define a substantially enclosed space forming an interior storage chamber with the exception of an aperture 12 at the uppermost end of the trapezoidal portion for accommodating a conventional clothes hanger l3 and a slit or opening 14 in the front piece 11 for storing bulky items such as sweaters, pajamas, sweat shirts or the like in the interior storage chamber of the bag 10. Again by way of illustration only, the slit or opening 14 as shown in FIG. 1 has a generally elongated elliptical shape, but it is to be clearly understood that a variety of shapes for this opening may be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention. The opening can remain permanently open for easy and quick accessibility as well as simplicity in the construction thereof. When it is desired to use the camper bag for storing articles, the clothes hanger 13 may be inserted through the opening 14 so that its hook portion is caused to extend through the aperture 12 for hanging the bag in the desired location. It can also be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill that, if desired, various clothing articles may be placed on the hanger 13 itself prior to or subsequent to insertion through opening 14 s as to increase the storage capacity of the bag.

To maintain the bags low bulk and yet, at the same time provide a great amount of storage area for articles, the front and rear pieces l1, 11', respectively, are provided with a number of pockets on their outer surfaces. Although the number and specific shape of the pockets may vary depending on particular applications, the preferred embodiment shown in the drawing contains two small pockets l5, 16 adjacent the uppermost end of the bag and on opposite sides of the opening 14 on the front piece 11. These pockets can be used to store, for

example, toilet articles, handkerchiefs, stockings, or the like. The front piece 11 also contains two larger pockets 17, 18 for storing different types of articles. Although the pockets l7, 18 may be of equal size, they are shown in FIG. 1 as being of slightly different size with pocket 17 being slightly larger than pocket 18. Such pockets are particularly adaptable for storing underwear, foundation garmets, socks, and the like.

In similar manner, pockets are also provided on the rear piece 11 as shown in FIG. 2 and can include two pockets l9 and 20 of different size at the lowermost portion of the rear piece II and a large pocket 2] extending across the full width of the bag for storing shirts, blouses and the like. The pockets on both the front and rear pieces preferably should be made of the same material as employed for said front and rear pieces. In view of the desirability of maintaining small space requirements for the bag in both the used and stored conditions, it is important that the pocket pieces l5, l6, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 be substantially flush with the front and rear pieces 11, 11' when no articles are stored therein as shown in FIG. 3. It is also to be appreciated that the pockets can be attached to the front and rear pieces l1, 11' by any conventional method such as, for example, machine stitching of sufficient strength to insure that the pockets will not separate from the front and rear pieces after extended use. Of course, the pockets on the bag can be arranged in a number of ways to accommodate different types of clothing. Further, it is conceivable that additional pockets may be arranged on the interior surfaces of the front and rear pieces of the bag for holding a greater number of articles. The above-described arrangement provides a bag of large storage capacity which can be easily stored when not in use and, on the other hand, can be easily put into use when desired. The opening 14 and the pockets 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 provide readily accessibility to articles stored therein in view of the fact that they are always open. Employing a conventional clothes hanger 13 to suspend the bag when in use provides simplicity and flexibility in that a special hanger does not have to be purchased separately nor is special construction needed. The clothes hanger can be removed when it is desired to store the bag.

While I have shown and described an embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it is to be understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible to numerous changes and modifications as known to a person skilled in the art. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein, but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A bag for storing various types of articles having a plurality of surfaces defining a substantially flat, enclosed interior chamber adapted to accommodate bulky articles, said surfaces including substantially planar front and rear surfaces being joined at their peripheries with an aperture defined between said surfaces at the uppermost portion of said bag adapted to accommodate a conventional clothes hanger when said bag is utilized for storing articles therein, permanently open access means in one of said surfaces for obtaining quick access to said interior chamber, and pocket means on the outward faces of the front and rear surfaces for accommodating articles, said pocket means being substantially flush with said front and rear surfaces prior to storage of articles therein and said pocket means on said front surface includes pockets located adjacent the uppermost portion thereof with said access means being located between said spaced pockets.

4. A bag in accordance with claim 3, wherein said pocket means on the other of said surfaces consists of a pocket located adjacent the uppermost portion thereof and extending the full width of said bag, and a plurality of pockets located adjacent the lowermost portion thereof.

5. A bag in accordance with claim 4, wherein said spaced pockets are located on said surface containing said access means, with said access means being located between said spaced pockets and consisting of an opening of generally elongated elliptical shape.

6. A bag in accordance with claim I wherein said surfaces and pocket means consist of reversible cloth material adapted to be machine-washable and dryable. 

1. A bag for storing various types of articles having a plurality of surfaces defining a substantially flat, enclosed interior chamber adapted to accommodate bulky articles, said surfaces including substantially planar front and rear surfaces being joined at their peripheries with an aperture defined between said surfaces at the uppermost portion of said bag adapted to accommodate a conventional clothes hanger when said bag is utilized for storing articles therein, permanently open access means in one of said surfaces for obtaining quick access to said interior chamber, and pocket means on the outward faces of the front and rear surfaces for accommodating articles, said pocket means being substantially flush with said front and rear surfaces prior to storage of articles therein and said pocket means on said front surface includes pockets located adjacent the uppermost portion thereof with said access means being located between said spaced pockets.
 2. A bag in accordance with claim 1, wherein the uppermost portion of said front and rear surfaces have a shape complimentary to the shape of a conventional clothes hanger adapted to be located in said interior surface and extend through said aperture when the bag is utilized for storing articles.
 3. A bag in accordance with claim 2, wherein said pocket means on said front surface includes a plurality of pockets located adjacent the lowermost portion thereof.
 4. A bag in accordance with claim 3, wherein said pocket means on the other of said surfaces consists of a pocket located adjacent the uppermost portion thereof and extending the full width of said bag, and a plurality of pockets located adjacent the lowermost portion thereof.
 5. A bag in accordance with claim 4, wherein said spaced pockets are located on said surface containing said access means, with said access means being located between saId spaced pockets and consisting of an opening of generally elongated elliptical shape.
 6. A bag in accordance with claim 1 wherein said surfaces and pocket means consist of reversible cloth material adapted to be machine-washable and dryable. 